Citroën LN
| Citroën LN (1976-1978) Citroën LNA (1978-1986) |
|
|---|---|
 |
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| Overview | |
| Manufacturer | PSA Group |
| Production | 1976–1986 |
| Assembly |
Aulnay-sous-Bois, France Villaverde, Madrid, Spain |
| Body and chassis | |
| Class | Supermini (B) |
| Body style | 3-door hatchback |
| Layout | FF layout |
| Related |
Peugeot 104 Talbot Samba |
| Powertrain | |
| Engine | 602 cc Flat-2 652 cc Flat-2 1.1 L I4 |
| Transmission | 4-speed manual |
| Dimensions | |
| Wheelbase | 2,230 mm (88 in) |
| Length | 3,380 mm (133 in) |
| Width | 1,520 mm (60 in) |
| Height | 1,370 mm (54 in) |
| Curb weight | 700 kg (1,500 lb) approx (60%:40%) |
| Chronology | |
| Predecessor | Citroën M35 |
| Successor | Citroën AX |
The Citroën LN (Hélène) and Citroën LNA (Hélèna) are supermini automobiles produced by the French manufacturer Citroën between 1976 and 1986. The added "A" used in the name of the bigger engined LNA stood for Athlétique (Athletic).
The LN was introduced in July 1976. It combined the bodyshell of the Peugeot 104 Z (a shortened floorpan version of the 104) with the economical 602 cc two-cylinder gasoline engine of the Citroën 2CV. Equipment levels were low, but the LN's key selling points were its cheap price and low running costs.
There was evidence of defensiveness at the press launch, possibly because a car that looked like a Peugeot, but was assembled at a Citroën plant and fitted with a Citroën engine, sharply refuted assurances that the two marques would retain their individuality. Those assurances had been provided by the same press departments just a few months earlier, when Citroën had again run out of money and Peugeot had taken control. When pressed, Citroën explained that the LN project had been rushed through because of "the need to supply customers and the [dealership] network with a model to strengthen Citroën's position at the lower end of the market" which was hardly a ringing endorsement of a range which at the time included the Ami and the Dyane as well as the venerable 2CV which would continue in production long after any of the others. Citroën made it clear that this would not happen again. They stayed true to this until the 1996 Citroën Saxo.
Citroën sold the LN in its native France only, but a more powerful replacement, the LNA, was introduced on 6 November 1978 and was exported to much of the rest of Europe (including right-hand drive versions for Great Britain, where it was not launched until early 1983). It had the more powerful and modern 652 cc two-cylinder engine of the Citroën Visa with electrical ignition. In December 1982 a 1.1 L four-cylinder engine was added which had a top speed of nearly 90 mph (145 km/h) for the LNA 11E and 11RE, which spelled the end of the two-cylinder models in many markets. But like the smaller-engined LN, the LNA was cheap to buy and cheap to run. For Italy and France only, there was also an intermediate version called the LNA 10E, with a 954 cc Peugeot engine.
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Wikipedia